A Letter from Pastor John (Summer 2008)
The Dream That Drives Our Present Construction
Summer 2008
Pastor John
From the very beginning of our project, we have said that it is not about the building. So what is it about? Here's what we must not lose sight of.
Behind the Building is a Vision
Our vision is to resist the ever present pull to become institutional, stagnant, traditional, atrophied, irrelevant, and disconnected. This happens in all too many churches.
What this means is a return to the core practices of being the church—
A Transforming Community
- for this is our ultimate objective—to grow into the stature of Christ both individually and corporately
A Radically Connected Community
- for we believe a disconnected church impacts no one
Here are the vital connections—
We are a grace community
- where failure connects with grace
- we are a community defined by our nurture, our encouragement of one another, our willingness to speak the truth in love
- a community in which the indwelling Christ is released--His grace thorough our gifts of the Spirit are unleashed
We are a worshipping community
- where emptiness connects with fullness
- we are a sacred place where God uses our worship to form people into faithful participants in the life of God
- where worship orders our desires, orients our vision by means of sermon, music, art, symbols, readings, Eucharist, celebration of holy days
We are a gifted community
- where gifts connect with opportunity
- we are a community where people are given the dignity of involvement, where staff are not called to do the ministry alone—but equip the saints to do the ministry together
- where people are encouraged to go with their strengths—the best people in the right places
We are a diverse community
- where ethnicities and generations connect in unity
- we are a community that is intentional in reflecting the diversity of Washington County
- different people integrated into one community such that it becomes our compelling witness, the sign of God's mystery
We are a missional community
- where Jesus connects with the world
- we are committed to reaching our immediate community, our city, and our world with an incarnational, holistic ministry
Behind the Building is a Model
There is one model we are avoiding—one we are pursuing—
What we are avoiding
A traditional church reaching those like itself
- insider language, maintaining things as is, looking at only the present or the past
What we are pursuing
An establishing church adapting to its changing culture, while holding to its core values
- a church committed to biblical essentials that define the church, intentional about reaching the lost, building up the saints, and providing a ministry that is relevant to a postmodern shift
Behind the building is a strategy
To grow in spiritual depth through solid teaching
- where truth is more than propositions, classes, sermons
- where truth that is seen, experienced, tested in the arena of community
- and in the process, the church lives out authentic faith
To seek God's presence and power through prayer
To grow in size to meet the resource demands of our vision
- strategic global partnerships
- strategic urban, suburban partnerships
- a local site where ministry to the community is enhanced
—and with growth—the aim to grow smaller through intentional communities
To create a multi-ethnic, multi-worship campus without becoming a church within a church
- services that are traditional, contemporary, emergent—each with their own style, elements, leadership
- maintaining the same core values, same vision
To be both ordered and organic
- to value structure without serving it—the organization serves the organism
- the wineskins always adapt to the fermenting wine of Jesus—structures, buildings, polities, leaders always adapting
Behind the building is an intentional design
- with every new vision, there is the need of different structures
- yesterday's structures cannot facilitate tomorrow's dreams
Our new sanctuary must create a sense of sacred space, provide for community, encourage multi-cultural integration, enable significant growth, and create the ability to become a multi-worship site
Our new foyer must create a third space, that gives birth to and builds relationships—both on weekends and throughout the week, as well as provide space for a resource center, meetings, and places to promote ministry
Our new nursery must make a statement that we are committed to reach young families
Our new classrooms must expand our abilities to build up the saints in spiritual maturity
Our new appearance must enhance the beauty of this place and speak invitation to those who drive by
Behind the building is a hope
- that God will bless all of this
- that all of us will make this dream part of our ongoing prayer
- that everyone will own this project—everyone will be generous
- that everyone will do his/her part in prayer